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T. E. BUTTQN.

STEAM BOILER.

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T. E. BUTTON` STEAM BOILBR.

Patented- Peb.9, 1886.

Mln/me@ g (2 www' N4 PETERS. mmm www Taranta Ottimi THEODORE E. BUTTON, OF WATERFORD, NEV YORK..

STEAM-scruta SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 335,680, dated February 9, 1886. Application niet september 21, 1584. semi No. 144,138. (No mota.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, THEoDoRn E. BUTTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Waterford, in the county of Saratoga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam Boilers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. A

My invention relates to improvements in vertical steam-boilers, particularly suitable for steam fire-engines and other apparatus requiring prompt generation of steam; and the objects of my improvement are to provide means for connecting adj ustably and at many points the steam-generator to the steam-receiver, to construct these connections so that water will be collected and remain upon the lower or crown-sheet of the steam-receiver, and to provide means within the boiler to reduce its water-holding capacity, and thereby increase the rapidity with which the water remaining in the boiler is transformed into steam. Iattain these objects by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents a vertical central seetion of a boiler constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 represents a horizontal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of a similar boiler having the lines surrounded by a diaphragm of a cylindrical form.

The iire-box is represented at A. It is provided with a grate, B, at the bottom, and a furnace-door frame, C, in the side thereof. The lower uesheet, D, is made crowning,7 or higher in the center than at the'periphery, to facilitate the running of sediment while the water is under ebullition or the boiler is under transportation from the crcwnshect into the legs of boiler. Y

E represents the upper fine-sheet, and F are the flues through which the products of combustion pass upward. These flues are preferably made of copper, andare arranged as close together as possible.

The water-level maintained in the boiler while under operation is generally at the line :c w, and covers about three-quarters of the length of the dues. To reduce the amount of water within the boiler as much as possible at the time the re is started,and thushavesteam at a working-pressure within a very few minutes, as this feature is of great importance in steam reengines, and a minute of delay L in forcing water on aire may cause great damage, there is placed within the boiler what I calla diaphragm,7 G. This diaphragm is either of prismatic or cylindrical or any form which will closely encompass the iiues, and is secured to the inside of the shell A2 of the boiler at g, just above theloweriiue-sheet, D. It extends nearly horizontally at gi', or parallel to said flue-sheet D, toward the outer row of fireliiues, and then vertically close to said iiues to a height of about three-fourths their length,

Y or nearly level with the normal water-line t w within the boiler. While said boiler is in full operation the said diaphragm G simply separates the highly-heated water in contact with the flues from the cooler water that is in contact with the shell of the boiler, and to facilitate the circulation of the latter back to the water-leg and the inner portion of the boiler, or among the flues F, the pipes H are provided. The pipes-any convenient number of them-have their lower end communicating with the lower portion of the water-leg, and their upper end with the lower portion of the space J, surrounding the diaphragm G. The upper portion of each pipe H is pro vided with a valve, I, to close all communication, when desired, between the space J and the water-leg surrounding the fire-box.

When the boiler is in full operation, the heated water between the ues F rises with the steam, and, passing over the top of the diaphragm G, descends through the pipes H into the bottom of the boiler, and up again among the flues, and thus a very rapid and thorough circulation takes place.

Although the pipes H are preferably on the outside of the boiler, they may be placed within, if desired.

Projecting from the surface of the shell opposite the bottom of the space J there is a valve, K, by means of which the water can be withdrawn from said space after closing the valves I, and yet keep the lues still surrounded by water. This is the condition in which the boiler is left when it is desired to have steam generated very rapidly upon kindling a fire under it. No danger is experienced from this reduction of waterwithin the boiler, but it is more liable to rapid variations in the height and temperature of water therein. After steam has been brought to workingpressure the valves I are opened, and the boileris in its normal working condition.

Above the generator is placed the steamreceiver L, consisting of a cylinder having about the same diameter as the generator, with a head, L', at the upper end, and a plate, L2 at the lower end, with a large single flue, M, between them and passing through their center. A space, N, is left between the generator and the receiver for the passage of the products of combustion from the iiues F to the lue M, and a sheet of iron, or jacket, l?, is fitted around said space N, to cause the products of combustionv to take the iiue M for an escape. The steam generator and receiver are connected by pipes arranged in a circle between the upper flue-sheet, E, and the lower plate of the steam-receiver. Each. of these connections is formed of two lengths of pipe screwed together endwise with a long threaded joint. The upper length, O, of pipeis secured into the bottom plate, L2, of the receiver, and its upper end projects within the latter a certain distance to retain a certain amount of water (carried with the steam) .upon said plate, and thus prevent the burning thereof. The

lower length, O, of the pipe has its lower end screwed into the sheet-plate E, while its upper end is screw-tapped to receive the screw-threaded lower end of the pipe O, and a lock-nut, O2, is placed at the joint. The ends of the pipes O and O have all the same number of threads cut to the inch as the lock-nut joint, and their relation to each other is as if the thread were continuous from the top of the pipe O to the bottom of the pipe O, so that Whatever may be the location of the joint, whether screwed long or short, the relation of the end threads to each other remains the same. The holes in the heads E and L2 are tapped in the same way, (as if the threads were continuous between them,) and the generator and receiver being l held at the proper distance apart by braces R (r ne of which is shown` by dotted lines) the pipes O O are screwed together as short as the joints will allow and placedin position opposite the holes made to receive them, and when they are partially unscrewed from each other their outer ends enter said holes. Each end of the pipes is tapered, so that it can be screwed into the sheet until itis-tight. Then the center joint is made tight with the locknut O2.

If only one, two, or 4even three connectingpipes were used, the above-described manner of providing them with equally spaced and arranged screw-threads may be immaterial; but when a larger numberl is used it is important that the screw-threads thereon shouldl be eut as above described.

I am aware-that boilers'have beeny made in which the steam generator and receiver have been united by pipes immovably secured to them, and I do not claim this as my invention; but

What I claim isl. The combination of a steam-generator and a steam-receiver above the latter with pipes O and O', screw-threaded with threads of identical diameter at both ends and relatively continuous, and a lock-nut upon said pipes at the joint thereof', substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A boiler consisting of a steam-generator having a series of screw-tapped holes in the top plate thereof and a steam-receiver having screw-tapped holes of the same diameter in the bottom platefthereof as in the top plate of the generator, with pipes O and O',having relatively the same continuous thread cut upon 'each end thereof and upon a lock-nut placed upon them at their joints, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3.. The combination of an upright steamgenerator having a crown-plate and a series of fines secured thereto, a steam-receiver of about the-same diameter placed over it, and pipessecured to both and projecting within the receiver, with an intermediate smokechamber between the steam-generator and the steam-receiver, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination of an upright steamgenerator having a 'crown-plate and a series of ues secured thereto,'a steam-receiver of about the same diameter placed over it, and` pipes-secured to both and projectingwithin the receiver, with jacket P, resting upon the steam -generator and thereceiver, and a smoke-chamber located between said steamgenerator and the steam-receiver, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

5. In combination withthe-shell of an upright tubular boiler and the fines thereof, the impermeable diaphragm G, surrounding said iiues within the shell of the boiler andsecured to the latter, whereby the water surrounding said diaphragm is,.when desired, kept from communicating with the water within. said diaphragm, substantiallyv as and for the purposedescribed.

6. In combination withv the shell of an upright tubular boiler-and the series of vertical tire-finesv thereof, the impermeable diaphragm G, surrounding said fines, and valve K, communicating withy the space between said diaphragm and shell, substantially as'andi for the-.purpose described; I

7. In combination with the shell of an upright boiler and the series of verticalviireflues thereof, the diaphragm G, surrounding said flues, and pipe H, communicating with the space between said diaphragm and shell` at one end andY with the water-leg at the- ICO IIO

other, substantially as and for the purpose In testimony whereofafx my sgnaturen described. presence of two witnesses.

8. In combination with the shell of an 11pright boiler and the series of vertical fire- 5 fines thereof, the diaphragm G, surrounding Witnesses: v said fines, the pipe H, and valve I thereon, WM. HoLRoYD, substantially as and forthe purpose described. NELSON BATT.

THEOD ORE E. BUTTON. 

